MPs committee rejects Sh700m Kibaki office plan

June 18, 2013 4:23 pm

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By LABAN WANAMBISI, The Committee has instead re-allocated part of the funds for the teachers’ salary to end the looming strike occasioned by demands dating back to 1997/FILENAIROBI, Kenya Jun 18 – The National Assembly’s committee on Budget and Appropriations on Tuesday rejected proposals by the government to spend Sh700 million to purchase an office building for immediate former President Mwai Kibaki.

The Committee has instead re-allocated part of the funds for the teachers’ salary to end the looming strike occasioned by demands dating back to 1997.

The Committee on Tuesday afternoon presented its report on the Supplementary Estimates in which the government is seeking authority to withdraw Sh19.5 billion from the Consolidated Fund.

Debate on the Estimates was deferred last week after House Speaker Justin Muturi concurred with Suba MP John Mbadi that it will be unconstitutional to debate the estimates without scrutinizing it.

The government plans to withdraw Sh13.2 billion to meet recurrent expenditure during the year ending June 30 and a further Sh4.7 billion from the fund to meet development expenditure within the same period.

The money is intended to among other areas, maternal healthcare, posting of intern doctors, cater for current security operations, purchase of subsidised fertiliser and mitigation of adverse effects of floods, completion of markets under the stimulus package and interest payment.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is to be allocated Sh950 million to run the Makueni Senatorial by election.

The government is seeking Sh1.3 billion for the health sector, which include Sh360 million for the maternal health care in line with its manifesto. An additional Sh240 million is being sought to cater for the posting of intern doctors and Sh190 million in respect of legal compensation.

Sh2.7 billion is being sought which will cater for the provision of subsidised fertiliser to reduce selling price from Sh3,800 per 50kg bag to Sh1,600.

The state wants to spend during the period Sh5.2 billion to address security operations both internally and continued external interventions in Somalia.

And additional Sh650 million for the completion of the stalled ESP markets before handing them over to the County Governments. The government is asking from the fund Sh150 million to cater for relief of Kenyans affected by floods in parts of the country.

LABAN WANAMBISI Laban Wanambisi is a Parliamentary and Political reporter. He joined the Capital Newsteam in 2005. Since then, he has reported on many of the major news events over the years including his first major assignment covering the 2005 National Referendum on the Draft Constitution, and several other subsequent key national and international events.